"Ran away, did they?"
Inside Locke's cultivation chamber within the Locke Territory, Lemm bowed his head as he reported the information he had gathered.
"They ran? Let them run."
Locke had long anticipated that Gasco and his two companions would flee.
After all, he knew full well that Kross and Marek had been secretly working with them.
But what they were chasing after… in Locke's eyes, all of it was nothing but fleeting illusions. Without strength, even drawing breath in this world could be a crime.
The capture of Kross and Marek could never have been hidden.
Once Gasco's trio received the news, they took only their families and escaped. By the time the soldiers from the Locke Territory arrived at their lands to seize them, the three had already crossed into the sphere of influence belonging to the Radiant Church.
Locke didn't bother to concern himself with their escape.
Below the Sanctuary, all are but ants—this was no empty saying.
Without stepping into Sanctuary, even if Gasko and the others were Ninth-Rank warriors, in the face of time's power, they could only obediently report to the Netherworld.
"Lemm, you've done well during this time."
"But I want you to remember—in this world, only strength matters."
"Right now the Locke Territory still has vacancies: two counts, five viscounts, twenty-five barons."
"As long as you reach the Seventh Rank, I'll grant you the title of Baron."
"At the Eighth Rank, you'll be made a Viscount of the Locke Territory."
"And if you reach the Ninth Rank, one of the Count titles will be yours."
"And should you attain Sanctuary… the Grand Duke's seat of the Locke Territory—I'll give it to you outright."
"But Lemm… if you follow the same crooked path as your father once did, don't blame your uncle for being ruthless."
"Y-yes… Lemm will remember Uncle's teachings."
Locke's final sentence made Lemm tremble violently. He hurried to express his loyalty.
"Go."
"Yes, Uncle. Lemm takes his leave."
After saluting Locke and Cole, Lemm departed from the chamber.
When he was gone, Locke shifted his gaze toward Cole.
"Well?"
Cole wore a complicated expression and let out a deep sigh.
"While I managed the territory, the Ross Merchant Guild was handled almost entirely by Lemm."
"Judging from his current performance, he's effectively transferred his merchant-guild methods to governing the territory."
"And you… are you dissatisfied?"
Cole fell silent.
Dissatisfied?
Perhaps.
Even now, he still felt his downfall had merely been a matter of bad luck. If only he had found a soul-pure individual before being discovered by His Majesty Celes… then he too could have become a lofty Sanctuary expert, just like his elder brother, right?
"Ah…"
Just one look at Cole's expression was enough. Locke didn't even need to sense the emotions within Cole's soul to know his thoughts had grown increasingly unbalanced.
Locke closed his eyes and stopped paying attention to him.
A gentle ripple of soul force brushed across Cole's soul. Instantly, Cole's eyes shut, and soon soft snores filled the room.
Lost in sleep, Cole seemed to be experiencing a pleasant dream—his lips curled upward uncontrollably.
This was one of Locke's unique soul-based techniques.
He had developed this method specifically for Cole.
With Locke's current soul mastery, it was incredibly easy for him to induce sleep in Cole.
Once asleep, Locke could manipulate the emotions within Cole's soul, allowing Cole's subconscious to form dreams from the emotions Locke amplified.
The emotions Locke stimulated the most were "joy," "delight," and "happiness."
In other words, Locke wove countless "beautiful dreams" for him.
And because these dreams were formed by Cole's own soul—responding to the emotions Locke induced—they fulfilled all of Cole's desires.
Originally, Locke's intention had been to let Cole realize that all of this was nothing but fleeting illusion, and that only what he truly possessed in real life was real.
But unexpectedly… instead of achieving clarity, Cole became intoxicated by the dreams and could not free himself.
After several conversations, Locke ultimately chose to respect his choice.
After all, no matter how Cole lived in reality, it could never make him as happy and carefree as the dreams Locke offered him.
Entering a state of unity between heaven and man, Locke resumed his cultivation.
Decades passed.
Regarding the Profound Mystery of Fog of Illusion, Locke had already comprehended eighty percent.
Of the Essence of Water Profound Mystery, he had grasped thirty percent.
And the Ice-Edge Profound Mystery—twenty percent.
During these years, apart from comprehension, Locke had also considered fusing Profound Mysteries.
Unfortunately, after so many years, among the three water-element Mysteries he grasped, he still could not find a single point of compatibility.
In the heaven-man unity state, Locke's soul merged with the omnipresent Illusionary fog Profound Mystery throughout heaven and earth.
In this state, his perception of the outside world came entirely through the Mystery he had comprehended.
He didn't know how others comprehended Profound Mysteries.
But for him, every time he cultivated, he used the Illusionary Fog Profound Mystery as a bridge to touch the unknown, untouched portions of other Profound Mysteries.
When he encountered these unknown parts, he used his understanding of law to analyze and interpret them.
The moment he fully deciphered an unknown segment; it meant his comprehension had grown deeper—allowing him to control even more of the Illusionary Fog Mystery.
In the cultivation chamber, Locke suddenly rose.
A sword of pure white mist condensed in his hand.
Locke stepped forward with the sword, beginning a fluid, ethereal dance.
If a talented water-element cultivator with decent comprehension were present, they would undoubtedly perceive Locke at this moment as the most dazzling being in the world.
For Locke was using swordplay to express the Illusionary Fog Profound Mystery he had understood.
In the beginning, he used the sword to guide his comprehension of the law.
But later… it became the law guiding Locke's sword.
A faint layer of mist quietly spread around him, enveloping his entire figure.
Though the fog did not surge or rage, it evoked an inexplicable sense of dread.
(End of Chapter)
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